Brass ensemble Ludwig Güttler
Saxon Christmas
Defy the pandemic with the shine of brass
By Stefan Schmöe
In the booklet of this CD, produced in summer 2020, Ludwig Güttler is still cautiously optimistic: After the lockdown in spring, it seemed quite conceivable to be able to return to a more or less normal concert life over the Christmas period. As is well known, the situation looks different in December, instead of Advent music in fairly crowded churches, there is a Christmas festival social distancingMode on. But at least Güttler and his brass ensemble managed to capture the concert atmosphere on this CD.
Güttler has arranged music by well-known and less well-known composers – including “typical” music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods such as an Intrada by Valerius Otto (1579 – 1612), an Allemande by Antonio Vivaldi or a motet by Michael Praetorius. That is festive, radiant brass shine. In contrast, there are highly virtuoso movements, taken to extremes with the first movement of Bach’s sixth Brandenburg concert, set for brass – and played with brilliant ease. For a decidedly Christmassy atmosphere, chorales are repeatedly introduced, and Güttler has put together sentences by various composers about Christmas carols into two partitas (about A rose has sprung up with music by Michael Praetorius, Melchior Vulpius and William Blade, over From the sky above again Praetorius, also JS Bach and Johannes Eccard), and also the “Quempas” (Whom the hoards praised very much) by Praetorius, here set for four brass groups, can be heard. And even the current jubilee Ludwig van Beethoven finds his place – with five variations on daughter Zion (Originally for piano and cello, there are then 12 variations). Unfortunately, one looks in vain for information about works and arrangements in the booklet.
Well-known and discoveries stand side by side in a balanced relationship; in the second part of the CD it even gets a little jazzy with three of them Seven Madrigals on Negro Spirituals by Adolph Busch (1891 – 1952) – that is the (only) point where Güttler threatens to drift into the arbitrary with his stylistic range. Otherwise, the selection of the compositions seems harmonious and stringent, especially since the musicians move through the different epochs with captivating musicality and, in case of doubt, suppress any hint of comfort with brisk tempos. In addition to the festive Christmas mood, a hint of joke flashes up every now and then, and the fun of making music is carried over, as is the seriousness. As with a “real” concert, there is an encore, and because Güttler likes to end his concerts with a chorale sung with the audience, that is also included. If you want to celebrate Christmas musically on the basis of not only Saxon tradition (not just Busch, Vivaldi or Beethoven too), and that on an excellent musical level, this recording is well advised.
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Brass ensemble Ludwig Güttler:
Saxon Christmas
Otto: Intrada in E flat major for brass and timpani
Beethoven: 5 Variations on “Daughter Zion”
Vivaldi: Allemanda for 2 brass choirs
Crüger: How should I receive you
Bach: Concerto in C major from BWV 1051/230
Praetorius: Jubilate Domino; Sinfonia; Choral
That the shepherds praised for 4 brass choirs
Schmelzer: Suite in C major for 2 brass choirs & timpani
Praetorius / Vulpius / Brad:
Partita over A rose has sprung up
Walter: We are born
Näther: Joseph, my dear Joseph
Hensel / Güttler: Postludium
Bartolini: Canzon Nr. 30
Güttler: Come you shepherds
Bush: off Seven Madrigals on Negro Spirituals
Chilean: Canzon Nr. 31 “
Praetorius / Bach / Eccard:
Partita over From the sky up, that’s where I come from
Clarke: The Prince of Denmark’s March
Liszt: Christ is born
Total playing time: 72:22
Berlin Classics 10282152
Further information
berlin-classics-music.com
guettler.com
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